Setting the Style

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Erin Mullan has every girl's dream job, she is the Buying Director of Womenswear and Focus for English high-fashion retailer, Browns. Browns, started in 1970, is arguably one of London's most important stores for style. Their selections are impeccable and its founder, Joan Burstein, is credited for discovering John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Hussein Chalayan and Commes des Garçons. So for Erin, she has quite the legacy and reputation to uphold. Good thing she is really good at what she does. Read on to get inside the mind of one of England's most important fashion buyers.

2. Was it all daunting to join a British retail institution with such a rich history and reputation?

It was definitely a big step for my career but I was excited about the new challenge and the opportunity of working with Mrs Burstein, the founder of Browns, who truly is an inspiring icon and leader in the fashion industry.

3. As an American, did you have to adjust your perspective at all toward your buying?

Although I grew up in the States, I moved to the UK when I was 14 which was when my personal style really started to develop. My first buying job was with Harrods, which is such an incredible and quintessentially British department store and I was then at Selfridges for several years so I think I have always bought with an English/European customer in mind. I do think that my American background has given me a more 'commercial' eye than some but I feel that I have been lucky to have bought for the most successful luxury retailers in the world. Our customer is global now thanks to the web so it's important to think about fashion as international and not just regional.

4. Along the same lines, what in your life did you have to adjust in moving to London?

It definitely took me a few years to adjust to life in the UK – I think the hardest part in the beginning was that English people can seem so cold and unfriendly to Americans! I was saying hello and good morning to everyone on the tube and they were all looking at me like I was an alien! I think my style also changed dramatically once I moved to London and I started to experiment a bit more with fashion. I love how eclectic and creative young people are in London and still find it inspiring to this day.

5. Tell me your favorites about this city, it could be anything like a coffee shop or a little street.

The thing I love about London the most is that it's so diverse; each post code is like its own little village and has its own personality. I love exploring different areas on weekends when it's nice outside and in the space of a few hours you can be walking down Portobello road then down the canals in little Venice to regents park, through Camden and into Primrose Hill. My guilty pleasure is Mexican food and margheritas at Crazy Homies on Westbourne Park Road. My local pub and favourite place for Sunday brunch is the cow, also one Westbourne park road. I also love Columbia flower market on a Saturday.

6. What of your picks for next season have you giddy and excited?

The first full collection of shoes from Balmain – I love them all and can't decide on one pair!
I am obsessed with shoes in general as we are opening the most amazing shoe boutique in the world on Brook Street at the end of January – there goes my pay check every month! Burberry Prorsum is new for us next season and I think Christopher Bailey has really hit his stride there now and the brand is the epitome of laid back, cool luxury. We love the dip dyed trench's and menswear inspired knits that twist on the body in gorgeous colours. Anything from Alexander Mcqueen – he is back on incredible form for Spring 09 – I am particularly lusting after the black and white striped dress and the black & white skelton leggings from the show. Belgian designer Cathy Pill & Portugese designer Felipe Oliveira Baptista who are both new to Browns this year – I can't wait to wear her jersey spray paint dresses and leather trousers.

7. Let's touch quickly on what is on everyone's mind, this economic climate. Were your selections at all impacted by what is going on in the world?

I think that by the time we got to the shows in Milan and Paris last season the credit crunch had just started and people were starting to look at things with a different perspective. Browns has always been known for its selection and that was no different but there was definitely a change in the overall mood. I think designers also felt the strain and either pushed their collections forward and excelled and were incredible or they fell flat and were disappointing. It became obvious that there was no longer room for mediocrity. Customers are going to be much more considered and frugal in their spending over the next 6 months so every item we bought had to be extraordinary and special to inspire people to want to part with their money.

8. Who is your favorite designer to work with? Least favorite (hey let's face it, some truly talented people are not exactly a walk in the park to work with).

I cant answer that one I'm afraid!!! Fashion politics!

9. Lastly, give me the first word that comes to mind for the following.

I cant sum it up in one word, so I hope a few are ok...
- Love like every day is your last
- Life: Is for living, never regret anything
- Success: comes from determination
- Fashion isn't to be taken too seriously
- Reality is what keeps us grounded